October 16, 2019
Insight Into Diversity honors college with HEED Award for fourth straight year

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Insight Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education, honored The Ohio State University College of Nursing today with the 2019 Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award to recognize the college’s outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion.

This is the fourth consecutive year that the College of Nursing has been named as a Health Professions HEED Award recipient. It is the only award recognizing colleges and universities for outstanding diversity and inclusion efforts across their campuses.

“We embrace diversity in people and ideas as a core value and a cultural imperative so that we can champion the potential of our students, faculty and staff,” said Angela Alston, DNP, MPH, APRN, WHNP-BC, FNP-BC, chief diversity officer and assistant professor of clinical practice, and Rachel Muredzwa, MSW, director of equity and inclusion at the College of Nursing. “We are making great strides in building inclusion into all areas of our college, and this award energizes us to reach for continued excellence.”

The college spotlighted several diversity and inclusion initiatives and accomplishments, including:

  • Its Summer Institute for Future Nurses program, which strives to increase the number of students in nursing from underrepresented populations and has hosted nearly 300 students since 2010
  • A 7% year-over-year increase in the graduation rate of Hispanic/Latinx students
  • Required annual unconscious/implicit bias training
  • “Barbers and Beauticians Who Care” and “Ask a Buckeye Nurse,” which provide health screenings in underserved communities in central Ohio
  • N-SPIRE, a student organization that raises public awareness of and provides education about healthcare inequities in underserved populations
  • Services to support student success, including clinical opportunities in diverse communities both locally and abroad

“I am so proud to be part of a college where people of all backgrounds can share diverse ideas, worldviews and experiences that can enrich our culture and all of our world-class programs and initiatives,” said Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk, PhD, APRN-CNP, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN, vice president for health promotion, university chief wellness officer and dean of the College of Nursing. “We are better able to dream, discover and deliver a healthier world together when we create an environment of respect, diversity and civility where anyone can thrive and achieve their highest potential.”

“The HEED Award process consists of a comprehensive and rigorous application that includes questions relating to the recruitment and retention of students and employees — and best practices for both — continued leadership support for diversity and other aspects of campus diversity and inclusion,” said Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. “We take a detailed approach to reviewing each application in deciding who will be named a HEED Award recipient. Our standards are high, and we look for institutions where diversity and inclusion are woven into the work being done every day across their campus.”

The college and 42 other higher education recipients will be featured in the December 2019 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.

September 26, 2019
New building scheduled for groundbreaking in spring 2020

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State University College of Nursing unveiled plans today for a new, 40,000-square-foot addition to its current home at Newton Hall. The addition, which will be built at the corner of Neil Avenue and West 9th Avenue, is scheduled to break ground in mid-to-late spring 2020.

“Over the last several years, our college has experienced unprecedented growth in the size of our population, the breadth of our initiatives and the stature of our academic programs,” said Bernadette Melnyk, PhD, APRN-CNP, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN, vice president for health promotion, university chief wellness officer and dean of the College of Nursing. “This addition will allow us to continue transforming the future of health by building dreams, discovering solutions and delivering impact for a healthier world.”

Over the past eight years, the college has:

The addition will house new space to support programs in academics, research, innovation, wellness and evidence-based practice. It will link to Newton Hall – the College of Nursing’s home since 1968 – via a three-story, glass-walled atrium. Other features include new office and special event space, a demonstration kitchen and a relaxation loft on the third floor.

The planned addition will also signify a first for the university: Newton Hall will become the first WELL-certified building on the Ohio State campus. The WELL v2 Building Standard, created and administered by the International WELL Building Institute, is a performance-based system for measuring, certifying and monitoring features of a building’s environment that impact human health through air, water, nourishment, light, movement, sound, materials, mental health, thermal comfort, community and innovation.

“This addition will not only serve as a gateway to the health science campus for the university, but it will also become a destination for transdisciplinary collaboration and ideas to advance human health and well-being,” Melnyk said. “We are so excited about the unlimited potential of what we can accomplish together, supported by this new space.”

The addition was designed by signature design firm ikon.5 architects, ranked as the sixth-best design firm in the United States and winner of more than 75 national and international awards, in partnership with Architect of Record M+A Architects, known for their knowledge of and expertise in Ohio State University projects. The latest renderings and more information about the addition’s planned features can be found at nursing.osu.edu/building.

September 10, 2019
New five-year, $5 million grant project to advance study on sensitivity to pain

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Todd Monroe, PhD, RN-BC, FNAP, FGSA, FAAN, associate professor at The Ohio State University College of Nursing, will help lead a multi-site five-year, $5 million grant project awarded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Institute on Aging (NIA) to advance research focused on patients with Alzheimer’s disease and cancer and their sensitivity to pain.

“This grant will study the response to experimentally-evoked thermal and pressure pain to determine if people with chronic cancer pain and Alzheimer’s disease may be at greater risk of suffering from poorly-treated pain at the end of life,” Monroe said. “This is especially important for patients with Alzheimer’s disease who also have cancers, such as prostate and breast cancer, that generally lead to very painful bone metastasis.”

The multi-site, multiple PI R01, Pain Sensitivity and Unpleasantness in People with Alzheimer’s Disease and Cancer, will be performed in close partnership with Ronald Cowan, MD, PhD, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health from Vanderbilt University. The research builds on numerous studies that Monroe and his colleagues have conducted over the last decade, including research that concluded that patients living with more severe dementia and cancer were at greater risk for not receiving hospice services and for receiving little or no pain medication during the end of life. Last year, Monroe and his team earned a five-year, $3.3 million NIH/NIA grant to examine gender and Alzheimer’s-related differences in verbal pain reporting patterns and how they are displayed in regional and network brain function, with an aim to lead to a better understanding of how Alzheimer’s and gender impact central pain mechanisms.

Monroe, Cowan and their team hope to use the information from this research to further explore the neurobiology of pain in older adults with dementia and chronic pain, which can in turn help lead to the development and testing of interventions to better manage pain in this growing population.

July 19, 2019
Grants support transformative research in healthcare across the lifespan

The Ohio State University College of Nursing announced today that faculty researchers at the college received approximately $10.7 million in grant funding during fiscal year 2019. That compares to $6.9 million granted for fiscal year 2018.

This level of funding supports research in several critical areas of healthcare, including aging and dementia care, understanding and preventing preterm birth, health and wellness interventions for vulnerable populations, symptom science, and improving critical and chronic care outcomes across the lifespan.

“We are grateful for the support our research faculty continue to receive to advance nursing and health sciences,” said Mary Beth Happ, PhD, RN, FAAN, FGSA, associate dean of research and innovation at the College of Nursing. “Our researchers pursue breakthroughs and provide leadership in priority areas that promote wellness, stunt the impact of chronic disease and improve health across the lifespan.”

The college revealed in February that last year, it ranked #13 overall and #6 among public institutions nationally in National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant funding specifically.

July 12, 2019

Ohio State University is trying to help current and future registered nurses learn more about opportunities in primary care. Employment of RNs is projected to grow 16% from 2014 to 2024, according to statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor.

April 01, 2019

The Ohio State University College of Nursing launched The Innovation Studio – Mirror Lake in Pomerene Hall on March 20.  

The Innovation Studio – Mirror Lake is the second innovation studio space on campus focused on fostering interprofessional collaboration in creating healthcare solutions. Similar to the movable maker space, this studio will offer a stable location for students, faculty and staff to share and develop their ideas for healthcare products, services or software. The Innovation Studio – Mirror Lake will also offer resources, mentors and robust prototyping tools to help develop ideas into a commercial reality.

The Innovation Studio – Mirror Lake will host workshops with topics such as product design, pitch development, interprofessional collaboration and maker skills, and provides project mentors and daily technical support.

The Innovation Studio – Mirror Lake has been made possible thanks to generous donations from the Translational Data Analytics Institute (TDAI) and College of Nursing alumna Connie Hahn Sharpe and her husband Gary.

March 12, 2019
New rankings from U.S. News & World Report also place college’s Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program in top 20 in the nation

COLUMBUS, Ohio – New rankings released today by U.S. News & World Report show that The Ohio State University College of Nursing’s Master of Science program vaulted into the country’s top 10, placing in a tie for no. 8 in the nation overall and no. 2 among public institutions. This ranking reflects a rise up from no. 16 overall last year.

The new rankings also show a rise for the college’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. The DNP at the College of Nursing now ranks no. 19, up from no. 21 last year.

The College of Nursing’s programs and those of other institutions across the country were judged on quality assessment, student selectivity and program size, faculty resources and research activity.

“The fact that these outstanding academic programs rose in national prominence is a testament to the superb education and mentorship provided by our world-class faculty, wonderful support by our staff, our exceptional students, and the innovative curriculum that prepares our students to be the highest caliber of advanced practice nurses,” said Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk, PhD, RN, APRN-CNP, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN, vice president for health promotion and dean of the College of Nursing. “These programs prepare our students with the knowledge and skills to dream, discover and deliver the highest quality of evidence-based care to transform health and well-being in ways that improve lives.”

“We are driven to create and sustain high-quality educational and experiential opportunities that prepare students to lead health care now and into the future,” said Cindy Anderson, PhD, RN, APRN-CNP, ANEF, FAHA, FNAP, FAAN, associate dean for academic affairs and educational innovation at the College of Nursing. “Our Master of Science and DNP programs provide educational preparation that positions our students to improve health outcomes everywhere they practice.”

Applications for summer and autumn 2019 admission to select specialties in the master’s in nursing program are being accepted until Monday, April 1 at 11:59 p.m. EDT. Specializations covered under this application include:

Interested prospective students can find specific admission requirements for the master’s in nursing graduate entry, traditional master’s and post-master’s options on the College of Nursing website and can apply through Graduate and Professional Admissions. Prospective students interested in pursuing a DNP degree can also apply through the Graduate and Professional Admissions portal. Post-master’s DNP applications are due by May 15; BSN to DNP applications are due by October 31.

In January, U.S. News & World Report released rankings related to online academic programs. The College of Nursing’s online Master of Science program ranked no. 2 in the nation and no. 1 among public institutions, and The Ohio State University as a whole ranked no. 3 in the country and no. 1 in Ohio for best online bachelor’s programs. The College of Nursing’s online RN-to-BSN program constitutes more than half of Ohio State’s online undergraduates.

 

Contact:

Phil Saken, College of Nursing, The Ohio State University
847-275-9025
Saken.2@osu.edu

February 20, 2019
Rita & Alex Hillman Foundation funds pilot of first-of-its-kind program targeting well care for pet owners and pets

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Both human and animal patients stand to benefit from an innovative new model of healthcare launched today by leaders of The Ohio State University Colleges of Nursing, Veterinary Medicine and Social Work.

The POP (Pet Owner and Pet) Care pilot program is funded through a Rita & Alex Hillman Foundation Emergent Innovation grant. It joins the knowledge and service of three academic colleges to transition a pattern of reactive sick care into proactive, holistic well care for homebound adults with multiple chronic conditions and their pets.

“As a pet owner and mother of a future veterinarian, this project is near and dear to my heart,” said Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk, PhD, RN, APRN-CNP, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN, vice president for health promotion, university chief wellness officer and dean of the College of Nursing, who is the creator and principal investigator for this grant. “When we talk about transforming health and transforming lives, this innovative strategy is the type of creativity so needed in today’s healthcare system. This collaborative partnership among our health sciences colleges has great potential to change the face of well care, not only for the population of people and pets in our own community, but also to serve as a national model for the country to emulate.”

The POP Care program borrows from the “One Health” concept endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which suggests that the health of people can be directly connected to the health of the animals and environment around them. The program creates a nurse practitioner-led, inter-professional team of a nurse practitioner, veterinarian, and social worker to address the health needs of people and their pets, with the goal of improving health outcomes for both.

“We know from research that the human-animal bond – especially for our older neighbors who live by themselves – is beneficial to both parties’ well-being,” said Laurie Millward, DVM, MS, DACVP, assistant professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine who also leads outreach efforts for the college. “It’s true that when you improve care for a pet, you also improve outcomes for the humans who love them.”

Participating students and faculty from the College of Social Work will assess social determinants of health, including access to nutritious food, transportation, and opportunities to connect to other socially in order to connect patients to resources that can help address those needs.

“This program can change the way we educate students and care for underserved populations in our communities,” said Holly Dabelko-Schoeny, PhD, associate professor in College of Social Work, whose research and expertise include testing innovative interventions to support the well-being of older adults. “We are very excited about learning how both students and patients benefit from this experience so that this approach can be scaled more broadly.”

This interdisciplinary approach will engage students and supervising faculty from each of the three participating colleges. Students will be assigned individual patients to visit at the patients’ homes and provide home care once a week for four weeks. Approximately 60 students from the Colleges of Nursing, Veterinary Medicine and Social Work will be engaged to assess 60 households during this pilot program. A final data analysis based on surveys and health outcomes is expected in December of this year.

February 19, 2019

The Franklin County commissioners approved more than $1 million Tuesday for crib distributions, health-care efforts and tobacco cessation programs, all aimed at reducing infant-mortality rates.

February 14, 2019
College ranks #13 among all nursing colleges, #6 among public institutions

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State University College of Nursing has made a significant leap in National Institutes of Health (NIH) ranking, placing it among the top 15 nursing colleges in the country. NIH rankings released this week show the College of Nursing at #13 overall and #6 among public institutions, with approximately $4.3 million in NIH research funding.

The College of Nursing ranked #20 last year and #31 two years ago.

“The NIH’s continued and increasing investment in our research at the College of Nursing demonstrates the outstanding quality of our research leadership, faculty and the staff who support them,” said Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk, PhD, RN, APRN-CNP, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN, vice president for health promotion, chief wellness officer and dean of the College of Nursing. “We are dreaming, discovering and delivering a healthier world with our faculty’s innovative and cutting-edge research that is truly transforming care and improving lives in real-world settings. I am deeply inspired by their work.”

“Our researchers are incredibly dedicated and passionate in their pursuit of science to prevent or relieve suffering, improve illness recovery, and help people live healthier lives,” said Mary Beth Happ, PhD, RN, FGSA, FAAN, associate dean for research and innovation at the College of Nursing. “It is not only rewarding to receive this level of investment from the NIH, but it is also motivating for us to keep exploring what we are capable of delivering to improve health and well-being across the life-span.”

 

College of Nursing research newly funded by the NIH this year includes:
Interdisciplinary study of Alzheimer’s patients

A five-year grant from NIH and the National Institute on Aging (NIA) is funding the study, “Sex Differences in Pain Reports and Brain Activation in Older Adults with Alzheimer’s Disease.” The grant was awarded to Todd Monroe, PhD, RN-BC, FNAP, FGSA, FAAN, associate professor in The Ohio State University College of Nursing. Monroe’s interdisciplinary team includes faculty from the College of Nursing, the Departments of Neurology and Geriatrics, and the Wright Center of Innovation in Biomedical Imaging at Ohio State, as well as collaborators from Vanderbilt University. The study is examining gender and Alzheimer’s-related differences in verbal pain reporting patterns and how they are displayed in regional and network brain function, with an aim to lead to better pain management.

 

Improving the health and well-being of older adults

A five-year grant from NIH and NIA is funding the interdisciplinary study, “Impact of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Oral Therapy on Healing of Chronic Venous Leg Ulcers in Older Adults.” The grant was awarded to Jodi McDaniel, PhD, RN, who is an associate professor and the graduate studies committee chair at The Ohio State University College of Nursing. Co-investigators include Alai Tan, MD, PhD, of the College of Nursing, and College of Medicine faculty Guibin Li, MD, PhD, Narasimham Parinandi, PhD, and Sashwati Roy, PhD. This project is testing a new oral nutrient therapy, and the project’s findings are expected to advance wound healing science.

 

Caring for infants with Down Syndrome and congenital heart disease

Tondi Harrison, PhD, RN, FAAN received an award to fund an administrative supplement to the study, “Behavioral and physiological responses to oral feeding in infants with complex congenital heart disease.” The supplement, from NIH’s INCLUDE program (INvestigation of Co-occurring conditions across the Lifespan to Understand Down SyndromE), will support the addition of infants who have both Down syndrome and congenital heart disease to the study. Harrison is an associate professor in the College of Nursing.

 

Helping pregnant women at-risk for complications

A three-year career development grant was awarded to Shannon Gillespie, PhD, RN, assistant professor, Martha S. Pitzer Center for Women, Children and Youth. Her study, “Maternal Immune Responsiveness as Clinical Target for Preterm Birth Prevention” (The MIRACL Study) is testing a novel method of identifying women at risk for inflammatory preterm birth and determining whether specific preventive interventions are likely to offer benefit during the pregnancy.

 

Examining the role of fathers in birth outcomes

A grant entitled “Paternal Role in Adverse Birth Outcomes in Black Families” is a multi-university project awarded to: Carmen Giurgescu, PhD, RN, WHNP, associate professor in The Ohio State University College of Nursing; Cleopatra Caldwell, PhD, of University of Michigan; and Dawn Phillips Misra, PhD, at Wayne State University. The study aims to add another dimension to efforts to reduce racial disparities in successful birth outcomes.

 

The College of Nursing is currently hiring new faculty who are committed to transforming health and transforming lives. You can find job openings in the college here.